The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-19
Washington Letter.

Froin our rcGulnf correspondents
WAsulNGToN. FEB. 7-As To what
congress is doing and talking about
in these last weeks of its life
might be mentioned hundreds Of
things if space permitted. The latest
legislation Of Importance includes
nearly hundred pension bills, the
measure prohibiting congressman from
acting as attorneys for railroads and
some of the regular appropriation bills,
which during the week on the subject
of reducing the surplus millions" by
building ships and coast defenses, on
the impropriety of congressional funer-
ais at public expense, on the perfect
propriety of giving congressman clerks
at public expense, and there was apolit-
ical discussion sprung in which Demo-
cratic senators INDUCED in a criticism
of the administration.
Mr.. Kelly of Penn, who is the oldest
member Of the House Of Representa-
tiycs, spoke in favor Of the bill author
iZng the appointment and prescribing
the compensation Of clerks TO senator's
and representatives who are not oosir-
men of committees as well as to those
who are. Speaking from twenty-six
years experience he said he had year
after year paid from his salary $500 for
such services az he was obliged to EN-
pl0y clerk TO perform. He was now
paying a gentleman $lG0 a month out
of his salary. and he believed if his con-
stituents knew the sacrifices he had
made to serve them they would shock
the public sense by making up fund
TO reimburse him. i
Nv. Kelly emphasized the fact that
he did not want clerk to help him get
Offices. He had declined renomina-
ton in 1858 until plank was put in
the platform that lie should not be ex-
pected To seek to administer the minor
offices of the government. For eighteen
years his constituents had elected him
with increasing majorites because they
found him serving the general interests
Of the reople and leaving the offices to
the care Of those to whom the constitu-
tion and the laws confided them.
Representative Curtain, the old war
governor Of Penn. also bore testimony
to the laborious round Of a congress-
mans life. lie was going out of con-
gress, but he was glad Of an opportun-
ity, before he went. TO fire one stern
gun i'm justice TO those who would come
a!tei him.
Mr.. Randall and Speaker Carlisle have
been in correspondence more than u
week about the tariff, but the last
letter left both wings of the party al
most as far apart as ever on the qnes-
tion. Should they finally harmonize
sulli ciently another effort will be made
during the week to get the question OF
revenue reduction before the House.
II would fail of course, as usual, and
that would end tie matter for this ses-
sion.
The president has received q largo
number of kilograms ard letters indors-
ing his action in the case of Mr.. Math-
ews. and the latter gentleman is also
the recipient of expressions of syMpa-
thy from different parts Of the country.
1t is impossible to make color issue
out Of the rejection of the presidents
appointee for recorder of deeds, either
against the Senate or against the Re-
publican party. There was nothing
like a party vote. Both Democrats
and Republicans voted against the NOM
nation.
Senator Vane Of North Carolina, a
Democratic member OF the dist;ict COM
mittee, said Il voted against Mathews
because he was negro carpet-bagger,
and don't care who knows it," Much
curiosity is shown to know what the
president will do about the matter next.
There is no foundation for the report
of "A formal movement looking to the
impeachment of Secretary Manning.
Sufficient strength could not be- OBJ
tanned In " Democratic House IL such
an attempt were made. But the ex-
treme silver men and greenbackers
have for months been 0utsp0ken In
their hostility to Mr.. Manning's policy.
and have repeatedly asserted that the
treasury department, under the present
regime. persistantly violates the laws
in reference to silver purchases and
small note issues.
1t seems to be understood now that
Secretary Manning win soon retire
from the Cabinet and manv believe
that the treasury lportfolio will be Of
fered TO Minister pendletOu, ''gcntle-
man George. y who has just returned
to the United States from Bsslin. There
is great deal of gossip TO this effect.
and the fact that Mr.. pendletOn ~
turned at tie request Of the preeidert
gives additional weight TO The possibis-
lilies ia his case. X